MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Chad

18.5.2021 - (2021/2695(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Thierry Mariani, Jérôme Rivière
on behalf of the ID Group

B9‑0291/2021

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Chad

(2021/2695(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- Having regard to the resolution 2391 of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the Sahel;

- Having regard to the resolution 1373 of the United Nations Security Council on the fight against terrorism;

- Having regard to the European Parliament report on EU-Africa security cooperation in the Sahel region, West Africa and the Horn of Africa;

- Having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas the death of President Idris Deby is a tragedy for his country, in view of the continuing commitment of the President of Chad against Islamist terrorism;  whereas he was killed in action, by a militia which previously fought alongside Islamist factions in Libya and which is being supported by Turkey.

B. Whereas the fight against Islamist terrorism in Africa must constitute an absolute priority for the member States of the European Union;

C. Whereas a National Transitional Council has been established following the death of President Idris Deby and has announced the holding of the medium-term elections;

D. Whereas the Chadian National Transitional Council has been recognized by all the G5 Sahel countries;

E. Whereas Chad hosts nearly 400,000 immigrants and refugees on its territory;

1. Affirms its support to the Chadian people; condemns the killing of President Deby and acknowledges the significant role he has played in the fight against islamist terrorism in the region;

2. Condemns the attacks carried out by the terrorist group known as FACT (Front pour l'Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad), which led to the death of President Idris Deby;  Strongly condemns the threat of FACT to  N’Djamena;  calls on the European Union not to be deceived once again by the groups hiding their jihadist motivations behind their declarations on democracy;  calls on the European Union to take into account the ethnic divisions in Africa in general and Chad in particular rather than making ideological observations on the situation;

3. Emphasizes the danger presented by the prospect of departure from Libya of more than 25,000 mercenaries, from which the group behind the death of President Deby, representing a major threat to Libya and to the African countries of its periphery, is drawn;

4. Calls on the European Union to publicly denounce Turkey's evil action in the Sahel, regrets that the European Union's blindness in Libya is contributing to the emergence of particularly dangerous jihadist groups;

5. Assures the National Transitional Council in Chad of all its support;  calls on the European Union to support those working to stem the influence of Islamism in such an important country for Africa;

6. Affirms that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Chad must be absolutely protected;

7. Deplores the lack of substantial support for Operation Barkhane, in which France is mainly involved;  Saluted the action of the French army and wishes to pay tribute to its soldiers who have fallen since 2012 in the Sahel; 

8. Calls on the United Nations Security Council to support the efforts of the Sahel  wars against terrorism;  recalls that these efforts are protecting Europe from the creation of a quasi-caliphate on our continent;

9. Recalls that the stability of Chad is necessary to protect the Member States of the European Union from any additional migratory wave; express its concerns for a possible next migration route to Europe originating from the 400,000 immigrants and refugees already present on Chadian soil ;

10. Stresses that Turkey’s involvement in the unrest in Libya and Chad gives it an additional opportunity to exert new migratory pressure on the European Union;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, to the President of the Council of the European Union, to the Secretary General of the United Nations and to the governments of the Member States of the European Union.